Why One Piece Fans Are Furious at Shanks’ Lookalike: The Rat Meme Controversy!

by

The storyline of the Elbaf Arc in “One Piece” is gaining momentum, with fresh characters and unexpected turns continually being introduced. In the latest Chapter 1136 of “One Piece,” it’s revealed that the woman accompanying Shanks’ doppelganger is none other than Gunko, a member of the Holy Knight order. However, the doppelganger himself hasn’t been officially presented yet. Since Chapter 907, Eiichiro Oda has only shown his side profile to maintain an air of mystery. Nevertheless, based on his actions and mannerisms, it’s clear that this character isn’t Shanks. Fans will recall that Shanks is a member of the prestigious Figarland Family.

38 years ago, during the God Valley Incident, he was taken in and raised as part of the Roger Pirates crew by Roger and Rayleigh. Since then, this pirate’s background remains largely a mystery. Interestingly, his apparent twin lived under completely different circumstances and became a Holy Knight, with his rank alone making him one of the most powerful characters in the series. Given that Garling is his father, it is plausible that Shanks’ brother assumed command after the original commander left to join the Gorosei. Despite being enigmatic and captivating, some viewers dislike this character due to accusations of defaming Shanks within the fan community.

The individual you see before you is the one who sparked the controversy about Shanks being labeled a “rat”. I personally don’t favor him, and I can’t help but hope that Zoro or Luffy deliver a powerful blow to him.

— Pookie Piece (@PookiePiece) January 18, 2025

One Piece Fans Hate Shanks’ Lookalike For All the Rat Memes

I’m observing the conversation here, and it seems that @PookiePiece doesn’t appreciate this individual due to his negative comments about Shanks being labeled as a “rat.” They express a strong dislike towards him and hope that either Zoro or Luffy would deliver a fierce beating to this person.

Read moreHunt: Showdown Permanently Gets Cheaper, but With a Catch

@subelira comments, “This individual will not earn my forgiveness for the harm he caused to Shank’s standing. He is responsible for all those memes.

“When I saw this, I was so happy, Shanks beating the allegations,” says @astr0heartz.

The concept of Shanks’ twin brother theory has been circulating since the publication of Chapter 907 back in July 2018. Fans were left bewildered when they saw Shanks conversing with the Gorosei about an unidentified pirate, as the Gorosei seemed to recognize someone wearing a hood and bearing a striking resemblance to Shanks. This led many fans to accuse Shanks of betrayal for divulging information about this mysterious pirate. Since then, the internet has been flooded with memes depicting Shanks as a snitch, a label his detractors are quick to use in any debate.

Read moreDeadpool & Wolverine Director Reveals What Part of Making Sequel Was Most Fun

As a die-hard fan of One Piece, I couldn’t help but cringe when my beloved character was misconstrued by some. Despite the widespread belief in the Shanks’ twin theory, memes persisted until Chapter 1134 dropped. The resemblance between Shanks and Gunko became apparent as they ventured into Elbaf with a mission to recruit Loki among the Holy Knights. Regrettably, their negotiations fell through, but it was at least reassuring to learn from the manga that the individual conversing with Gorosei wasn’t actually Shanks himself.

Over the past six years, Shanks’ followers continue to be dismayed by the harm inflicted on his public image. The speculation about him having a twin brother emerged because half of his face remains concealed, and any scars are not visible. Though many found this theory hard to accept, some of the discussions around it have been quite amusing. However, now that Shanks has successfully debunked those accusations, his fans can finally relax with a sigh of relief.

Read More

2025-01-22 16:09